Psalm 23 & Our Life-breath

    

The LORD is my shepherd,

                              I shall not want.

    In grass meadows He makes me lie down,

                              by quiet waters guides me.

    My life He brings back.

                              He leads me on pathways of justice

                                             for His name's sake.

    Though I walk in the vale of death's shadow,

                              I fear no harm,

                                             for You are with me.

    Your rod and Your staff—

                              it is they that console me.

    You set out a table before me

                              in the face of my foes.

    You moisten my head with oil,

                              my cup overflows.

    Let but goodness and kindness pursue me

                              all the days of my life.

    And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD

                              for many long days.

Robert Alter, "Psalm 23" from The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary. 

Copyright © 2007 by Robert Alter. 

During our Psalm Study at Trenton United Church I encouraged participants to read the lectionary psalm for the day and I've attempted to keep up the practice since the study concluded weeks ago. On Thursday the psalm switched to 23, which is probably the most familiar of all, even to those who wouldn't consider themselves religious. This will also be the psalm for this coming Sunday in Lent. 

I decided to look at Hebrew scholar Robert Alter's version and to read the commentary he provides. His translation and insight brought a freshness to my understanding of what could be a "whatever" experience of this psalm:

3. My life He brings back. Although "He restoreth my soul" is time-honored, the Hebrew nefesh does not mean "soul" but "life-breath" or "life". The image is of someone who has almost stopped breathing and is revived, brought back to life. 

I found this meaningful given what we have been through with the COVID-19 pandemic and reports of those who were gravely sick and dying unable to breath. As I continue to read about Medical Assistance in Dying I am also mindful of the experience of the physicians "calling" death after breathing ceases. We are living on a planet which is developing a sort of COPD with an increasing number of de-oxygenated dead zones in oceans and other bodies of water. Our forests are being cut at an alarming rate even though we depend upon them for oxygen. 

The ability to draw in our life-breath can't be taken for granted, even though our lungs and diaphram do so without much thought on our part, 12-16 times a minute. 

I've never thought about Psalm 23 as an aid to meditative prayer but "my life (breath) he brings back" is a mantra for health and wholeness as individuals, communities, our beloved Planet Earth.